RSV Vaccine

Generic name: RSV Vaccine
Brand names: Arexvy, Abrysvo
Dosage form: injection (intramuscular)
Drug class: Viral vaccines

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 9, 2024.

What is an RSV vaccine?

RSV vaccines Abrysvo (Pfizer) and Arexvy (GSK) are used to prevent severe RSV symptoms in adults 60 years and older, and Abrysvo can also be used in late pregnancy to prevent severe RSV in babies through to age 6 months. Respiratory syncytial virus vaccines (RSV vaccines) work by building an immune response (antibodies) against the respiratory syncytial virus, which helps prevent severe symptoms of lower respiratory tract disease and reduces the risk of hospitalization or death in at-risk patients.

When pregnant, the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (RSV vaccine) helps the mother's body make antibodies to the virus that are passed through the placenta to the unborn baby. This will help protect the baby up to 6 months old against lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV.

The CDC recommends the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (RSV vaccine) vaccine for infants, toddlers, and adults 60 years and older as they are most at risk of getting very sick with RSV.

Arexvy, the GSK RSV vaccine (RSVpreF3), became FDA-approved on May 3, 2023,  to prevent serious symptoms caused by RSV in adults 60 years of age and older. 

Abrysvo, the Pfizer RSV vaccine (RSVpreF), became FDA-approved on May 31, 2023, to prevent serious symptoms caused by RSV in adults 60 years of age and older and pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age to protect infants from birth through 6 months of age.

What is respiratory syncytial virus?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages. It can cause severe disease (pneumonia, hospitalization, and death) in young infants and older adults due to age-related declining immunity and/or underlying conditions.

RSV symptoms are runny nose, sore throat, stuffy nose, cough, wheezing, headache, and fever. In most people, symptoms are mild, and they recover after 1 to 2 weeks. In very young infants, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) symptoms may be decreased activity, irritability, and breathing difficulties. 

More severe infections may cause inflammation of the small airways (bronchiolitis) and may also cause pneumonia. RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in children under 12 months old.

RSV vaccine side effects

Common RSV vaccine side effects may include tiredness, nausea, headache, muscle pain, or pain where the injection was given.

Serious RSV vaccine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine may cause other serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome--numbness, pain, tingling, weakness, burning or prickly feeling, vision or hearing problems, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Warning

Fainting may occur when receiving injectable vaccines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury. Patients who are immunocompromised, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a reduced immune response to RSV vaccines.

Becoming infected with respiratory syncytial virus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive another dose of this vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

How will I receive a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine?

RSV vaccine is given as a single shot (injection) into the muscle.

RSV vaccine dosing information

Usual Adult Arexvy Dose for Respiratory Syncytial Virus: 0.5 mL intramuscularly as a single dose.

Arexvy Use: An active immunization for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus in individuals 60 years of age and older.

Usual Adult Abrysvo Dose for Respiratory Syncytial Virus: 0.5 mL intramuscularly as a single dose.

Abrysvo Use: An active immunization of pregnant individuals at 32 to 36 gestational age for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants from birth to 6 months of age. For active immunization for the prevention of LRTD caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since this vaccine is given as a one-time injection, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving this vaccine?

Follow your vaccination provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Interactions  

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your vaccination provider about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Other drugs may affect this vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Storage

Arexvy

Storage before reconstitution 

Adjuvant suspension component vials and Lyophilized antigen component vials: 

• Store refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). 
• Store in the original package in order to protect vials from light. 
• Do not freeze. Discard if the adjuvant suspension component has been frozen.

Storage after Reconstitution

• Administer immediately or store in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F to 46°F) or at room temperature [up to 25°C (77°F)] for up to 4 hours prior to use. 
• Protect vials from light. 
• Discard reconstituted vaccine if not used within 4 hours. 
• Do not freeze. Discard if the vaccine has been frozen.

Abrysvo

Storage Before Reconstitution 

• Store refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton. 
• Do not freeze. Discard if the carton has been frozen. 

Storage After Reconstitution 

• Administer immediately or store at room temperature [15ºC to 30ºC (59ºF to 86ºF)] and use within 4 hours. 
• Do not store reconstituted vaccine under refrigerated conditions [2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF)]. 
• Do not freeze the reconstituted vaccine.

Ingredients

Arexvy

Arexvy active ingredient:  120 mcg of the recombinant RSVPreF3 antigen, 25 mcg of MPL, and 25 mcg of QS-21.

Arexvy inactive ingredients 14.7 mg of Trehalose, 4.4 mg of sodium chloride, 0.83 mg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.26 mg of dipotassium phosphate, 0.18 mg of polysorbate 80, 0.15 mg of disodium phosphate anhydrous, 0.5 mg of DOPC, and 0.125 mg of cholesterol.
Arexvy contains no preservative.

Abrysvo

Abrysvo active ingredient: RSV stabilized prefusion F proteins (60 mcg RSV preF A and 60 mcg RSV preF B) per 0.5 mL.

Abrysvo inactive ingredients:0.11 mg tromethamine, 1.04 mg tromethamine hydrochloride, 11.3 mg sucrose, 22.5 mg mannitol, 0.08 mg polysorbate 80, and 1.1 mg sodium chloride per 0.5 mL.
Abrysvo contains no preservatives.

Company

Arexvy 

Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Rixensart, Belgium, U.S. License 1617.

Distributed by GlaxoSmithKline Durham, NC 27701.

Abrysvo

Manufactured by: Pfizer Inc. NY, NY 10001.

Distributed by: Pfizer Inc. NY, NY 10001.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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